Earth-auger.



n. T. PHILLIPS.-

EARTH AUGER.

APPUCATION FILED AUG-9. 916.

LQQQAEQB Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

D. T. PHlLLiPS.

EARTH AUGER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-9,1916.

LQQQAGQQ Patented Apr. 10,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

DAVE T. PHILLIPS, OF CELINA, TEXAS.

EARTH-AUGER.

naeaaec.

Application filed August 9, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVE T. PHILLIPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Celina, in the county of Collin and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Earth-Angers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to earth angers, and it has for its object to produce a simple and improved device of this kind having wings or side members which are hingedly supported and capable of being readily moved to a convenient position for discharging the material that has been excavated.-

A further object of the invention is to simplify and improve the construction of the wings and of the bit with which said wings are hingedly connected.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and improved means for effectively retaining the wings in position for excavating.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an auger constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the wings in position for discharging the excavated material.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view of the bit.

Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view of the lower end of one of the wings.

Fig. 8 is a perspective detail view show- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1(1 1917.

Serial No. 114,015.

ing a portion of the axial shaft, showing also the upper end portions of the wings disassembled from the shaft and the means for connecting the wings with the shaft.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The bit 15 of the improved auger has at its upper end a socket 16 which is internally threaded for the reception of the lower end of the axial shaft 17. The socket 16 is provided on diametrically opposite sides with laterally extending lugs 18. The upper extremity of the shaft 17 carries a T-coupling 19 through which extends a handle 20.

The wings or side members 21 of the improved auger are of semi-circular cross section, and each is connected at its lower end with a flange 22 rising from a. cutting member 23, said cutting member being of approximately semi-circular shape and provided with a downturned portion 24 having a cutting edge. Secured on the top face of the cutting member 23 is a bar 25 having a forked portion producing ears 26 which are pivotally connected with one of the lugs 18 by a pin or bolt 27 about the axis of which the wing may swing.

Each wing is provided adjacent to its upper end with angle bar 28 bolted or riveted on the inner face thereof, said angle bar including an arm 29 provided near its free end with an upwardly extending finger 30, said finger being, however, spaced from the free end of the arm 29. Secured on the shaft 17 is a collar 31 having a flange 32, said collar being provided on diametrically opposite sides with vertical notches 33, said notches extending through the flange 32. These notches are adapted to receive the upwardly extending fingers 30 of the arms 29, the terminal portions 34 of said arms being adapted to project beneath the body of the collar 31. Slidably mounted on the shaft 17 above the collar 31 is a cap 35 having at its lower end a circumferential flange 36, said cap being properly proportioned to engage the collar 31 which may be received within said cap, the flange 36 of the cap engaging the top face of the flange 32 extending from the collar.

It will be readily seen that when the cap 35 is moved upwardly on the shaft 17 out of engagement with the collar 31, the wings 21 may be swung outwardly in opposite directions with respect to the shaft 17 to the position indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings for the convenient discharge of excavated material. When the wings 21 are moved upwardly and inwardly to place the fingers 30 within the notches 33 of the collar 31 with the terminal portions 34 of the arms 29 projecting beneath said collar, the parts may be retained in assembled position by simply moving the cap 35 downward until it engages the collar 31, thereby locking the parts in assembled position. v

The manner of using the improved auger and the advantages thereof will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed by those skilled in the art to which it apperta-ins. The bit 15 is driven into the ground, thus providing an axis about which the auger may be rotated by means of the handle 20, the operator bearing downward on said handle so as to cause the downturned portions of the cutting members to engage the earth which will thus be loosened and gathered in the spaces between the wmgs. Each wing is preferably provided with an out-turned cutting edge, best seen at 37 in Fig. l, for the purpose of scraping the wall of the excavation and thereby assisting in preserving the proper contour of the hole. When a sufficient quantity of the dirt has been accumulated in the auger, the latter is withdrawn and the wings moved to a discharging position.

By means of the improved auger holes or excavations for the reception of fence posts, telegraph posts and the like may be quickly and efliciently formed. The improved tool may be made in various sizes and dimensions according to the uses that are to be made thereof. It is simple, inexpensive and thoroughly efficient for the purposes for which it is provided.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In an earth auger, a bit provided at its upper end with a socket and laterally extending lugs at diametrically opposite sides.

2. In an earth auger, a bit having at its upper end an internally threaded socket provided with laterally extending lugs at diametrically opposite sides, an axial shaft threadedly engaging the socket, wings of semi-circular cross section each having at its lower end a cutting member, radial bars secured on said cutting members and having forked ends, and pivot members connecting the forks with the lugs of the socket member.

3. In an earth auger, a bit having a socket at its upper end, an axial shaft engaging said socket, wings hingedly connected with the socket, each wing having at its upper end alaterally extending arm provided with an upwardly extending finger near the free end thereof, a. flanged collar fixed on the axial shaft and having notches in opposite sides thereof, and a cap slidable on the shaft above the flanged arm and adapted for engagement therewith.

i. In an earth auger, a bit having a socket at its upper end, an axial shaft engaging said socket, wings hingedly connected with,

the socket, each wing having at its upper end a laterally extending arm provided with an upwardly extending finger near the free end thereof, a flanged collar fixed on the axial shaft and having notches in opposite sides thereof and a cap slidable on the shaft above the flanged arm and adapted for engagement therewith, the axial shaft having at its upper end a transversely disposed handle.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

DAVE T. PHILLIPS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent? Washington, D. G. 

